Socket wrench



July 30, 1935.

F. U. WINCHESTER SOCKET WRENCH Filed March 2, 1.932

Eta-HY HIS ATTORNEY.

Patented July 1935 UNITED STATES SOCKET WRENCH Frank U. Winchester, Lansing, Mich, assignor to Motor Wheel Corporation, Lansing, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 2, 1932, Serial No. 596,219

2 Claims.

This invention relates to socket wrenches and more particularly to wrenches of that type suitable for use in securing and removing the hold or clamp nuts on heavy duty vehicle wheels.

5 The invention has for its principal objects the provision of a socket wrench whichis of simple and inexpensive construction, which may be utilized for securing and removing the clamp nuts of vehicle wheels where the periphery of the wheel overhangs the clamp nut, which is designed to withstand the extreme pressures required to secure and remove such clamp nuts, and which is adapted to be folded into compact arrangement for storage. Other more or less incidental and ancillary objects will appear from the following description of the invention.

Socket wrenches adapted for use in removing and installing vehicle wheels on heavy duty trucks and trailers must be strong enough to withstand 20 the very great pressure required in securing and removing the clamp nuts for such wheels. Inasmuch as the shape of vehicle wheels of this character as regards the overhang of the periphery and tire carrying part of the wheel in relation to the portion of the wheel carrying the clamping nuts varies greatly, it is necessary to provide a, socket wrench which can be conveniently rotated without interference from the overhanging portion of the wheel when placing and removing 30 the clamping nuts. For this reason the socket wrenches in use heretofore have been of relatively complex and expensive construction.

This invention provides a socket wrench which by reason of a pivotal handle connection may be 35 rotated continuously in securing a clamping nut without interference from any part of the wheel or vehicle and without striking the ground. This greatly facilitates the ease and speed with which clamp nuts may be installed and removed. Accordingly the socket wrench embodying this invention is suitable for use with substantially all types of vehicle wheels regardless of the overhanging relation of the tire carrying portion to the body of the wheel, and is at the same time 4 of very simple and inexpensive construction. This is accomplished by forming the socket wrench in two parts, one part comprising the socket member itself and being formed of cast metal, and the other part comprising a steel bar handle removably and pivotably secured to the socket member in a manner whereby the latter may be rotated with the handle at an angle thereto. In this manner a socket wrench is produced, none of the parts of which require machine work, with one exception, which will be referred to hereinafter.

An example of a socket wrench embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure I is a side view in elevation of the socket wrench, a portion thereof being shown in section to illustrate the manner in which the handle is secured to the socket member.

Figure II is a side view in elevation of the 10 handle shown in Figure I. I

Figure III is a cross sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of Figure I.

Figure IV is an end view in elevation of the structure shown in Figure I.

The wrench embodying this invention comprises a substantially tubular socket member l0 formed of cast metal and preferably a steel bar handle H removably and pivotably connected thereto. The wall of the socket member l0 adjacent one extremity thereof is cast to form a plurality of flat surfaces [2 adapted to engage similar fiat surfaces of a hold or clamping nut utilized for the purpose of securing a vehicle wheel to a hub flange. A substantially rec- 5 tangular opening 13 is provided in the'opposite extremity of the socket member ill for a purpose to be described presently. Openings l4 for the reception of one extremity of the handle II are formed in the enlarged portion of the wall of the socket member Ill adjacent the opening l3 and extending in a direction at right angles thereto.

The handle II has an end portion l5 bent at right angles to the remainder thereof. The por- 35,

tion I 5 is provided adjacent the extremity thereof with an annular grooove it, the formation of which constitutes the only machine work required in the construction of the socket wrench embodying this invention. The annular groove 40 I6 is located about the end portion 15 at a suitable distance from the extremity thereof to bring the groove in alignment with the opening l3 when the end portion l5 of the handle II is inserted into the openings M in the socket member l0.

The handle H is removably secured to the socket member ID by means of a resilient annular metal clip I! which is adapted to be inserted through the opening I3 in the end of the socket member to whereby it may be snapped into position in the groove [5 formed in the handle ll after the end portion l5 thereof has been positioned within the openings l4.

The metal clip I! which is best shown in Fig- I we III is of substantially annular formation with the opposite extremities l8 bent out of alignment and with its mid-portion 19 extended to provide means for securely locking the handle H to the socket member ill when the clip 51 is in position within the groove E6. As has been stated the clip El may be inserted through the opening l3 in the end of the socket member ID. Likewise it may be removed through the same opening by springing the extremities i8 thereof apart so that it is freed from the end portion In this manner a new sock- [5 of the handle I I. et member may be readily affixed to an old handle or a new handle affixed to an old socket membeer in case either of these parts should become broken.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the handle I I when operatively connected to the socket member it may be rotated aboutthe socket member NJ on the vertical axis formed by the end portion l5. While normally the body portion of the handle I I is rotated to a position in whichit lies at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the socket member Ill for operating the socket member, it will be apparent that the socket member may also be operated by means of pressure applied to the handle 5 5 when the handle is in any position other than parallel to the longitudinal axis of the socket member. The'handle may be rotated to a position in which the body portion thereof overlies the socket handle member, a handle member having an end portion positioned within said opening, an annular groove formed in the end portion of said handle member for the reception of a semi-circular band, a semi-circular band positioned within said groove with its ends turned outwardly to contact the socket member, and a recess in the socket member through which said band may be inserted and withdrawn.

2. A coupling comprising a socket member having an opening therein for the reception of a handle member, a handle member having anend portion positioned within said opening, an annular groove formed in the end portion of said handle for the reception of a semi-circular band,

a semi-circular band positioned within said groove with its ends and an intermediate portion turned upwardly to contact the socket member, and a recess in the socket member through which said band may be inserted and withdrawn.

I FRANK U. WINCHESTER. 

